(Pics) Derick Melander’s Massive Second-Hand Clothing Sculptures

Derick Melander creates meticulous sculptures out of carefully folded second hand clothes. His work brings attention to the large amount of textile waste that is generated daily, and the clothing used in his pieces are usually donated after the fact.

He explains his work:

I create large geometric configurations from carefully folded and stacked second-hand clothing. These structures take the form of wedges, columns, walls and enclosures, typically weighing between five hundred pounds and two tons. Smaller pieces directly interact with the surrounding architecture. Larger works create discrete environments.

As clothing wears, fades, stains and stretches it becomes an intimate record of our physical presence. It traces the edge of the body, defining the boundary between the individual and the outside world.